Bottom-flushing apparatus for lauter tubs



Nov. 3, 1953 J. EPSTEIN BOTTOM-FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR LAUTER TUBS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 9, 1951 IN VENTOR ATTORNEYS Nov. 3, 1953 J. EPSTEIN 2,657,804

BOTTOM-FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR LAUTER TUBS Filed Jan. 9 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EILEE- ATTORN E Y5.

Patented Nov. 3, 1953 BOTTOM-FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR LAUTER TUBS Joshua. Epstein, Oreland, Pa assimr to Acme Coppeismithlng -& Machine Company, Orcland, Pa.,- a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 9, 1951, Serial N 0. 205,138

6 Claims.

The specification which follows relates to means for flushing the bottom of a lauter tub to remove sediment and to cleanse it thoroughly between operations.

Lauter tubs are well known in which the bottoms have drains to which the wort is led. In particular, one type of such tub has a bottom formed of sections each of which constitutes a valley sloping to the periphery and an individual drain for each valley. This invention is of particular value in tubs of this description, although it may be used with other types.

The invention consists in providing a fixture surrounding the standard of the center bearing or forming a part thereof which can be used to introduce jets ofwater uniformly around the axis and directed over the bottom and its valleys to the peripheral drains.

One object of the invention is to flush the bottom of the tub toward the lowermost points where drains are located.

Another object of the invention is to provide arelatively uniform jet of water directed as a sheet radially uniformly around the bottom of the tub and parallel thereto or at a slight angle of impact.

A still further object of the invention is 'to'provide a uniform distribution of flushing water around the center and in the form of jets which spread out like a fan, so that the entire bottom is flushed effectively.

These and other objects of the invention will be readily understood from the following descriptlon of the preferred form of the invention. This has been illustrated in the accompanying -drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a lauter tub embodying the improved bottomilushing device;

.Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-4 in Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the undercut flange forming the nozzle lip and Fig. 4 is a Vertical section of the same taken on the line 44 in Fig. 3.

Briefly described, the uniform flushing of the bottom of the lauter tub is accomplished under this invention by the provision of a circular nozzle around the standard of the center bearing. This nozzle is designed to distribute jets of flushing water uniformly around the bottom of .the tub. Furthermore, each jet fans out so that the entire bottom of the tub is flushed adequately.

On the drawings, the lauter tub 6 is supported upon a foundation structure 1. The bottom 8 of the tub has a center ring 9 supported upon the foundation structure 1. The remainder oi the "bottom consists of a series of valleys [0. Each valley has sides sloping laterally to a radius which in turn drains out to the periphery as shown in Fig. 1. Each valley has a drain not shown.

There is a center standard H also permanently mounted and shown to be bolted to the center ring 9. This center standard provides a center bearing I2, for the vertical'shaft I3. This has arms l4 and depending rotary sti-rrers of the usual type.

Each segmentary portion or valley of the bottom carries a slotted grid 6 which forms a false bottom. This grid also rests upon radial bars separating the valleys of the bottom.

It is well known that the above structure is efficiently designed for the rapid draining of wort from grains through the false bottom, outwardly of the valleys to individual drains. The problem exists in adequately flushing the bottom sections to remove sediment and to thoroughly cleanse the bottom surface between steeping operations.

For this purpose I have utilized the flange I B of the center standard II. This flange is provided with an undercut groov 19 extending entirely around the flange. This leaves the outer periphery of the flange as a depending lip 20. The lip 20 approaches closely to the center ring 9 and forms with it a flushing nozzle. The stream of water passing between the ring *9 and the lip will be spread out for even distribution around the bottom of the tub.

At spaced intervals around the flange IS, the groove I9 is extended inwardly to provide recesses 2|. This is illustrated best in Fig. 3 where the recesses are substantially triangular and are connected by a wide opening into the groove 19. Thus the jets are fanshaped as they leave the lip and are generally radial with respect to the bottom.

Risers 22 are also provided through the c nter ring! opposite the recesses 12L .Each riser includes a check valve 23 to prevent any possibility of drainage through the risers in the event the water pressure is lowered.

The lower ends of the risers connect with a circular water pipe 24. Thi water pipe is connected to a source of water supply and receives water under moderate pressure for the flushing operation.

During the steeping operation, the flushing apparatus is inactive. The check valves 23 are closed so that even in the absence or water pres- 3 sure in the risers, no reverse flow or drainage can occur.

When the wort is drained from the top, each section or the bottom operates individually, the drainage occurring through individual outlets in the periphery. During the steeping and also the draining, fine sediment may accumulate over the bottom of the tub. This will not ordinarily be disturbed during drainage. It will be necessary to use force to dislodge this sediment. Jets of Water introduced through the nozzle formed by the lip 20 and the ring 9 will be supplied from recesses 2|. These jets will be generally radial or the recesses 2| and will strike glancingly over the bottom in the direction of the periphery and drain. This will effectually dislodge the sediment and carry it toward the drain wher it will be removed.

At the same time, by reason of the recesses 2|, the jets will fan out so that the entire surface of each sector of the bottom will be struck by a portion of a radial jet.

Entirely apart from the flushing operation there is also need for thorough cleansing of the bottom between steeping operations. By locating the jets at the center, and directing them radially, the flushing operation flushes the area immediately surrounding the center standard. In this way no part of the bottom escapes thorough cleansing.

The above description applies to the preferred form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be evident, however, that the purposes of the invention can be served equally well by equipment which may vary from that illustrated in proportions, materials and minor details without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination a lauter tub having a stand ard for a center bearing, a horizontal peripheral flange on the standard, a false bottom supported centrally on the flange, said flange being undercut to provide a circular groove and a depending peripheral lip and having spaced recesses extending inwardly from the groove, a bottom fastened to the lower side of the flange and spaced below the said lip, a riser in the bottom opposite each recess and a common water supply pipe connected to the risers.

2. In combination a lauter tub having a standard for a center bearing, a horizontal peripheral flange on the standard, a false bottom supported centrally on the flange, said flange being undercut to provide a circular groove and a depending peripheral lip and having spaced recesses extending inwardly from the groove, a bottom having a ring fastened to the lower side of the flange inwardly of said groove and being spaced below the peripheral lip to provide a continuous circular nozzle, a riser in the ring opposite each recess and a common water supply pipe connected to the risers.

3. In combination a lauter tub having a standard for a center bearing, a horizontal peripheral flange on the standard, a false bottom supported centrally on the flange, said flange being undercut to provide a circular groove and a depending peripheral lip and having spaced fanshaped recesses extending inwardly from the groove, a bottom fastened to the lower side of the flange and spaced below the said lip, a riser in the bottom opposite each recess and a common water supply pipe connected to the risers.

4. In combination a lauter tub having a standard for acenter bearing, a horizontal peripheral flange on the standard, a false bottom supported centrally on the fi'ange, said flange being undercut to provide a continuous circular groove and a depending peripheral lip and having spaced recesses extending inwardly from the groove, a bottom fastened to the lower side of the flange and spaced below the said lip, said bottom having a series of outwardly sloping valleys opposite said spaced recesses, a riser in the bottom opposite each recess and a common water supply pipe connected to the risers.

5. In combination a lauter tub having a standard for a center bearing, a horizontal peripheral flange on the standard, a false bottom supported centrally on the flange, said flange being undercut to provide a continuous circular groove and 3. depending peripheral lip and having spaced recesses extending inwardly from the groove, a bottom having a ring fastened to the lower side of the flange and spaced below the said lip, said bottom having a series of outwardly sloping valleys opposite said spaced recesses, a riser in the ring opposite each recess and a common water supply pipe connected to the risers.

6. In combination a lauter tub having a standard for a center bearing, a horizontal peripheral flange on the standard, a false bottom supported centrally on the flange, said flange being undercut to provide a continuous circular groove and a depending peripheral lip and having spaced recesses extending inwardly from the groove, a bottom fastened to the lower side of the flange and spaced below the said lip, a riser in the bottom opposite each recess, a check-valve in each riser and a common water supply pipe connected to the risers.

JOSHUA EPS'I'EIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 780,780 Culley Jan. 24, 1905 838,998 Hunter Dec. 18, 1906 883,383 Borden Mar. 31, 1908 1,050,698 Scheurmann Jan. 14, 1913 1,092,121 Morlock Mar. 31, 1914 1,508,177 Frazier Sept. 9, 1924 1,871,207 Whitman Aug. 9, 1932 1,983,232 Keller Dec. 4, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 21,355 Great Britain of 1900 

